A chaplain’s calling

How Sister Melissa Untalon-Espino shepherds her flock 

By Nora Igova & Joanna Gomez 

Melissa Untalon-Espino, aka Sister Melissa, is the Protestant chaplain at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF), who has dedicated more than 30 years to ministry. 

People at CCWF know Untalon-Espino as a woman passionate about God. She also looks like a doll that belongs on top of a wedding cake; a petite fashionista who can create a whole outfit based on a pair of earrings she likes. 

Originally from Monterey County, Untalon-Espino was brought up in a Christian home by Bea and Pastor Pete Untalon, who served as chaplain at Valley State Prison for Women for 13 years. 

When she was pregnant with Untalon-Espino, Bea was baptized in the river Arroyo Seco. Right then, Pastor Pete knew his daughter was a child of God. She had a sensitive nature, kind-heartedness, and a love for people, even as a kid, he said. 

Untalon-Espino’s parents have been the biggest influence in her life. She believed her dad when he said, “Being a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean that one truly has a relationship with God. Just like being born in a garage doesn’t make you a car.” 

“They taught me how to love God, love people, and not quit when it’s hard,” Untalon-Espino said. “These lessons are with me every single day.” They sowed a seed in her that flourished and now, after a whole lot of running and struggles, she is exactly where she is supposed to be. 

The family relocated to the Central Valley in 1991, when she was 19. Around that same time, having the gift of singing, she began a music career, traveling performing Christian R&B and continued for years after that. At age 21, Untalon-Espino signed to a record label. Her music was uploaded to CDbaby (a digital distribution company that puts artists’ music on every music streaming website available). 

Untalon-Espino was floored when she received the reports on how many times her music has been downloaded internationally. DJs became Facebook friends of hers and she became part of people’s playlists. 

“It is really cool to see a playlist that looks like this: Ashante, Sade, Melissa Untalon, Robin Thicke, Usher,” Untalon-Espino said. 

However, deep down in heart, she felt it wasn’t her true passion. 

Later on, as an adult, Untalon-Espino went through some hardships in life. Pastor Pete watched her being emotionally in pain, alone with her kids, the loss of her home, her economic status changed. From that moment on she began to equip herself spiritually with the word of God. 

But she didn’t stop there. She took the phrase “Equip Yourself” and put it on her coffee cup, t-shirt, notepads, book bags, and her mouse pad as a daily reminder of her unshakable faith in God. She preaches that you are equipped with the word of God, when the hard times come and they always do, you will always have a foundation that sustains you. 

One verse that always comes to her mind is Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and everything else will be added unto you.” Today, Matthew 6:33 is her license plate and a permanent registration with the Department of God. 

“I watched her pray through her hopelessness as she remained faithful to God,” Pastor Pete said. “As a father and counselor, I can only do so much. The rest was God. He gave her favor as she continued to have trust in Him and [He] placed her in the largest women’s prison.” 

Untalon-Espino has worked in CCWF for more than 10 years. She started as an office technician in the Medical Scheduling Department, then she moved to the Employee Relations/Labor Relations office. She stayed there for two years and then promoted to become executive assistant to the warden. She worked among the warden’s management team for six years. 

“Working in the warden’s office was intimidating,” Untalon-Espino said. “However, I was surrounded with great people, and I learned a lot about, not only CCWF, but the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation [CDCR] in general.” 

Subsequently, Untalon-Espino was approached by Community Resources Manager Courtney Waybright with the information that the Protestant chaplain position was opening soon and suggested she might be a good fit for the position. Waybright remembered thinking “here was this small person with a big voice, spiritually,” and that Untalon-Espino would be a great fit for the job. She took Waybright’s suggestion and submitted a letter of interest, because she always wanted to walk in her dad’s footsteps. 

The rest was history. Untalon-Espino became the new CCWF Protestant chaplain, in 2023. 

“What Waybright didn’t know,” Untalon-Espino said, “being a chaplain had been a dream of mine for over 20 years.” Untalon-Espino often sang at her dad’s services at Valley State Prison for Women, which had always been a fulfilling experience. After many years, life lessons, heartaches and tribulations, the Lord gave her the reassurance of her readiness to step into her role. 

The position both surprised Pastor Pete, and didn’t. 

“I never thought my daughter would be a state chaplain and she would be literally sitting in my chair,” he said. But “we got the same calling … She relates to the women. She doesn’t work for CDCR. She works for God. “ 

Her role as a chaplain is often misunderstood. Some people think chaplains just pray with people. That is part of it, but it is also walking through grief, celebrating victories, connecting people to resources, and sometimes just sitting in silence with someone so they know they are not alone. 

Untalon-Espino described the community of CCWF as courageous, full of perseverance, resilience and heart. When hard days come, and they always do, she encourages herself with prayer, remembering why she is here and of course a good cup of coffee or two. One of the many things Untalon-Espino has learned from the incarcerated that has changed her as a person is resilience: the ability to get back up after life has knocked you down. 

Untalon-Espino will never forget what it’s like listening to a gym full of incarcerated people worshipping at the top of their lungs. 

“It’s electric and the atmosphere is indescribable,” she said. “When outside volunteers come to CCWF and witness this, they all leave saying the same thing, ‘WOW, the worship here is better than some churches out in the free world.’ God pouring out His spirit like He said He would. That is a thing one doesn’t forget.” 

CCWF resident Melissa Salazar has worked for the chapel and Untalon-Espino for a little over two years and she loves her job as she serves her Lord and community. 

“Working with Sister Melissa has been a blessing and a humbling experience,” Salazar said. “She sees each and every one of us not by our cases, flaws, or where we came from, but as beautiful children of God.” 

Salazar paused, took a deep breath and said, “That’s very hard to do in a place like this, especially when we don’t see ourselves like that. “ 

Salazar talked about Untalon-Espino’s spirit bringing people together and the way she makes her place a sanctuary for all. “She’s not about filling the seats in the chapel, but about planting the seeds in their minds,” Salazar said. 

The few other things Untalon-Espino would tell her younger self are: “Don’t sit in the sun so much, eat healthy, take care of your singing voice, and stay away from thugs.” 

The advice from Untalon-Espino to someone that feels stuck is “Your story isn’t over. You might be in a chapter you don’t like, but God is still writing, and He is good at plot twists,” Untalon-Espino said. 

The reason behind what she does every day is because, “Every soul matters. Period.”